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Abstract:

A backlight unit is provided. The backlight unit includes an LED; an LED
driving unit which drives the LED in accordance with a switching
operation of a transistor; and a control unit which adds an additional
signal to an output current of the LED to obtain a combined current,
compares the combined current with the reference current, and controls
the switching operation of the transistor based on the results of the
comparison, wherein the additional signal is a current signal whose level
increases over time in each period and is then reset to a predefined
value in each period in accordance with an operation cycle of the
transistor.

Claims:

1. A backlight unit comprising: a light-emitting diode (LED); an LED
driving unit which drives the LED in accordance with a switching
operation of a transistor; and a control unit which adds an additional
signal to an output current of the LED to generate a combined current,
compares the combined current with a reference current in a comparison,
and controls the switching operation of the transistor based on a result
of the comparison, wherein the additional signal is a current signal
whose level increases over time in a period and is then reset in the
period to a predefined value for each period of a plurality of periods in
accordance with an operation cycle of the transistor.

2. The backlight unit of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises: an
oscillator which generates a clock signal for periodically driving the
transistor; an additional signal generation module which generates the
additional signal in synchronization with the clock signal; a comparison
module which receives the combined current and the reference current, and
compares the combined current with the reference current; and a control
signal output module which outputs a control signal for controlling the
transistor based on the result of the comparison performed by the
comparison module.

3. The backlight unit of claim 1, wherein the LED driving unit comprises:
a DC-to-DC converter which converts an input voltage into an LED driving
voltage in accordance with an operation of the transistor, which is
controlled by the control unit, and provides the LED driving voltage to
the LED.

4. An apparatus for controlling an LED driving circuit, the apparatus
comprising: an oscillator which generates a clock signal for periodically
driving a transistor in the LED driving circuit; an additional signal
generation unit which generates an additional signal that is in
synchronization with the clock signal, and adds the additional signal to
a current that is used in the LED driving circuit to generate a combined
current; a comparison unit which compares the combined current with a
reference current in a comparison; and a control signal output unit which
outputs a control signal for controlling the transistor based on a result
of the comparison performed by the comparison unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the additional signal is a current
signal whose level increases over time in a period and is then reset to a
predefined value in the period for each period of a plurality of periods
in accordance with an operation cycle of the transistor.

6. A method of controlling an LED driving circuit, the method comprising:
generating a clock signal for periodically driving a transistor in the
LED driving circuit; generating an additional signal that is in
synchronization with the clock signal; receiving the additional signal
and a current that is used in the LED driving circuit; adding the
additional signal and the current that is used in the LED driving circuit
to generate a combined current; comparing the combined current with a
reference current; and outputting a control signal for controlling the
transistor based on a result of the comparing.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the additional signal is a current
signal whose level increases over time in a period and is then reset to a
predefined value in the period for each period of a plurality of periods
in accordance with an operation cycle of the transistor.

8. The backlight unit of claim 2, wherein the additional signal increases
over time during an on period of the clock signal, and the additional
signal is reset to the predefined value during an off period of the clock
signal.

9. The backlight unit of claim 8, wherein, if the combined current is
equal to or greater than the reference current, the control signal output
module outputs an off control signal which turns off the transistor.

10. The backlight unit of claim 9, wherein the control signal output
module outputs an on control signal at each on period of a plurality of
on periods of the clock signal which turn on the transistor.

11. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein, if the combined current is equal
to or greater than the reference current, the control signal output unit
outputs an off control signal which turns off the transistor, and the
control signal output module outputs an on control signal at each on
period of a plurality of on periods of the clock signal which turn on the
transistor.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein, if the combined current is equal to
or greater than the reference current, outputting the control signal
which turns off the transistor until the next on period of the clock
signal.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No.
10-2011-0077881, filed on Aug. 4, 2011, in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field

[0003] Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present disclosure
relate to providing a backlight unit and an apparatus and method for
controlling a light-emitting diode (LED) driving circuit, and more
particularly, to providing a backlight unit using a light-emitting diode
(LED) and an apparatus and method for controlling an LED driving circuit.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have been widely used because they
are slim and light in weight, consume less power and require low driving
voltages, as compared to other displays. However, LCDs do not emit light
by themselves, and require additional backlight units to provide light to
LCD panels thereof.

[0006] Cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs), light-emitting diodes
(LEDs) and the like have been employed as backlight sources for LCDs.
CCFLs use mercury and may cause pollution. In addition, CCFLs generally
have the disadvantages of low response speed and poor color reproduction
and may not be suitable for miniaturization.

[0007] LEDs do not use materials that may cause harm to the environment,
and may thus be deemed eco-friendly. In addition, LEDs may be
impulse-driven. Moreover, LEDs may provide excellent color
reproducibility, have an ability to arbitrarily adjust brightness and
color temperature by adjusting the amount of light emitted therefrom, and
may be suitable for miniaturization. Therefore, LEDs have increasingly
been employed as backlight sources for LCD panels.

[0008] In a typical boost-type LED driving circuit, a switching
metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) field-effect transistor (FET) may be
connected to a ground. Thus, the boost-type LED driving circuit may be
easy to be driven. In addition, a dimming MOSFET, which is also driven
with the ground, may be added to an LED load terminal, thereby easily
controlling the LED at high speed so as to provide high-resolution
dimming.

[0009] However, the boost-type LED driving circuit requires LED-open
protection and LED-short protection. In addition, due to the inherent
characteristics of the boost-type LED driving circuit such as a
requirement of a high input current, the manufacturing cost of the
boost-type LED driving circuit may generally be high.

[0010] In a case in which high-resolution dimming is not required, the
manufacturing cost of an LED driving circuit may be reduced by applying a
low-side buck circuit not using a dimming MOSFET in a peak current
control manner without any output current feedback. Peak current control
is a technique of switching on a switching MOSFET at a uniform frequency
and switching off the switching MOSFET in response to a sensed current
reaching the same level as a reference current Iref.

[0011] However, this type of method may result in average LED output
current fluctuations in case of any load variations or variations in
input and output conditions, which is more apparent in a discontinuous
conduction mode (DCM), in which a current through an inductor decreases
to zero during a switching cycle, than in a continuous conduction mode
(CCM), in which the current through the inductor never falls to zero
during the switching cycle.

[0012] In addition, the CCM may be less suitable for use than the DCM
because of its large MOSFET switching loss and a requirement of the use
of an inductor with a high inductance.

SUMMARY

[0013] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure address at least
the above problems and/or disadvantages and other disadvantages not
described above. Also, the exemplary embodiments are not required to
overcome the disadvantages described above, and an exemplary embodiment
may not overcome any of the problems described above.

[0014] A backlight unit, an apparatus and method for controlling a
light-emitting diode (LED) driving circuit are provided which are capable
of reducing variations in an average LED output current with respect to
variations in the properties of the elements of the backlight unit and
the input and output conditions for the backlight unit.

[0015] According to an exemplary aspect, there is provided a backlight
unit including: an LED; an LED driving unit which drives the LED in
accordance with a switching operation of a transistor; and a control unit
which adds an additional signal to an output current of the LED to obtain
a combined current, compares the combined current with a reference
current, and controls the switching operation of the transistor based on
results of the comparison, wherein the additional signal is a current
signal whose level increases over time in each period and is then reset
in each period to a predefined value in accordance with an operation
cycle of the transistor.

[0016] The control unit may include: an oscillator which generates a clock
signal for periodically driving the transistor; an additional signal
generation module which generates the additional signal in
synchronization with the clock signal; a comparison module which receives
the combined current and the reference current, and compares the combined
current with the reference current; and a control signal output module
which outputs a control signal for controlling the transistor based on
the results of the comparison performed by the comparison module.

[0017] The LED driving unit may include a DC-to-DC converter which
converts an input voltage into an LED driving voltage in accordance with
an operation of the transistor, which is controlled by the control unit,
and provides the LED driving voltage to the LED.

[0018] According to another exemplary aspect, there is provided an
apparatus for controlling an LED driving circuit, the apparatus
including: an oscillator which generates a clock signal for periodically
driving a transistor in the LED driving circuit; an additional signal
generation unit which generates an additional signal that is in
synchronization with the clock signal, and adds the additional signal to
a current that is used in the LED driving circuit to obtain a combined
current; a comparison unit which compares the combined current with a
reference current; and a control signal output unit which outputs a
control signal for controlling the transistor based on results of the
comparison performed by the comparison unit.

[0019] The additional signal is a current signal whose level increases
over time in each period and is then reset to a predefined value in each
period in accordance with an operation cycle of the transistor.

[0020] According to another exemplary aspect, there is provided a method
of controlling an LED driving circuit, the method including: generating a
clock signal for periodically driving a transistor in the LED driving
circuit; generating an additional signal that is in synchronization with
the clock signal; receiving the additional signal and a current that is
used in the LED driving circuit; adding the additional signal and the
current that is used in the LED driving circuit to obtain a combined
current; comparing the combined current with a reference current; and
outputting a control signal for controlling the transistor based on
results of the comparing.

[0021] The additional signal is a current signal whose level increases
over time in each period and is then reset to a predefined value in each
period in accordance with an operation cycle of the transistor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The above and/or other aspects will be more apparent by describing
certain exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for controlling a
light-emitting diode (LED) driving circuit according to an exemplary
embodiment;

[0024]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a backlight unit according to an
exemplary embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the backlight unit illustrated in
FIG. 2;

[0026] FIGS. 4A to 8B are waveform diagrams for comparing the LED output
current of a related-art backlight assembly and the LED output current of
a backlight unit according to an exemplary embodiment; and

[0027]FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving an LED
driving circuit according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described in greater
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] In the following description, the same drawing reference numerals
are used for the same elements even in different drawings. The matters
defined in the description, such as detailed construction and elements,
are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention.
Thus, it is apparent that the present invention can be carried out
without those specifically defined matters. Also, well-known functions or
constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the
invention with unnecessary detail.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus 100 for controlling a
light-emitting diode (LED) driving circuit according to an exemplary
embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus 100 includes an oscillator
110, an additional signal generation unit 120, a comparison unit 130, and
a control signal output unit 140.

[0031] In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, an LED driving circuit (not
shown) that may be controlled by the apparatus 100 may be a buck
converter, and the apparatus 100 may generate a pulse-width modulation
(PWM) signal for driving the buck converter.

[0032] The buck converter may be a circuit whose input and output
terminals share the same ground source, and may include various types of
elements such as, for example, a transistor, an inductor, a capacitor, a
diode, and the like. The buck converter may drive an LED (not shown) by
being switched on or off at regular intervals of time in response to the
receipt of a PWM signal from an external source.

[0033] More specifically, in a case in which a transistor in the buck
converter is switched on in response to a PWM signal, the buck converter
may convert input power into an LED driving voltage, and may provide the
LED driving voltage to the LED. In a case in which the transistor is
switched off in response to a PWM signal, the buck converter may continue
to provide input power stored in the inductor and the capacitor thereof
to the LED during a time period (hereinafter, the "on" period) in which
the transistor is switched on.

[0034] That is, the buck converter may adjust the brightness of the LED
according to the duty cycle of a PWM signal.

[0035] The structure and operation of the buck converter are well-known to
one of ordinary skill in the art, and thus, detailed descriptions thereof
will be omitted.

[0036] The oscillator 110 may generate a clock signal for driving a
transistor in the LED driving circuit periodically. More specifically,
the oscillator 110 may generate a clock signal with a predefined
frequency to switch on the transistor of the LED driving circuit at
regular intervals of time.

[0037] The additional signal generation unit 120 may generate an
additional signal in synchronization with the clock signal generated by
the oscillator 110.

[0038] The additional signal may be a current signal that continues to
increase and is then reset to a predefined value over the course of the
operation of the transistor of the LED driving circuit.

[0039] More specifically, the additional signal may have the same period
as the clock signal, which is generated by the oscillator 110, and may be
a current signal whose level increases linearly or nonlinearly over time
in each period. For example, the additional signal may be a ramp signal
having the same period as the clock signal.

[0040] The additional signal generation unit 120 may add the additional
signal to a current signal for use in the LED driving circuit.

[0041] For example, the term "current signal for use in the LED driving
circuit" indicates, but is not limited to, a current that is output by
the LED during the "on" period of the transistor of the LED driving
circuit.

[0042] That is, the additional signal generation unit 120 may add the
additional signal to the current output by the LED during the "on" period
of the transistor of the LED driving circuit. Since the additional signal
is a current signal whose level increases over time in each period, the
longer the "on" period of the transistor of the LED driving circuit, the
higher the current added to the output current of the LED.

[0043] The comparison unit 130 may compare a current Ia, which is
obtained by adding the additional signal to the output current of the
LED, with a reference current Iref, and may transmit the results of
the comparison to the control signal output unit 140.

[0044] The comparison unit 130 may be implemented as a typical comparator.

[0045] The control signal output unit 140 may output a control signal for
the transistor of the LED driving circuit based on the results of the
comparison performed by the comparison unit 130.

[0046] More specifically, the control signal output unit 140 may receive
the clock signal from the oscillator 110, may receive the results of the
comparison performed by the comparison unit 130, and may generate a PWM
signal for driving the LED driving circuit based on the clock signal and
the results of the comparison performed by the comparison unit 130.

[0047] That is, the control signal output unit 140 may switch on the
transistor of the LED driving circuit at regular intervals of time in
synchronization with the clock signal. In this example, if the current
Ia is higher than or the same as the reference current Iref,
the control signal output unit 140 may generate a PWM signal for
switching off the transistor of the LED driving circuit.

[0048] The control signal output unit 140 may be implemented as a
reset-set (RS) flip-flop that receives the clock signal as a set input
and the output of the comparison unit 130 as a reset input.

[0049]FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the backlight unit 200.
Referring to FIG. 2, the backlight unit 200 includes an LED 210, an LED
driving unit 220, and a control unit 230.

[0050] The LED 210 may emit light in response to a driving voltage being
applied by the LED driving unit 220.

[0051] The brightness of the LED 210 may be determined by an average
current provided by the LED driving unit 220.

[0052] The LED driving unit 220 may apply a driving voltage to the LED 210
under the control of the control unit 230.

[0053] More specifically, the LED driving unit 220 may convert an input
voltage into a direct current (DC) voltage in accordance with the
operation of a transistor that is controlled by the control unit 230, and
may provide the DC voltage to the LED 210, which is connected to the LED
driving unit 220 in parallel.

[0054] The LED driving unit 220 may be implemented as a buck converter,
but there is no restriction to the type of device that may be used as the
LED driving unit 220. For example, various types of DC-to-DC converters
(such as, for example, a buck-boost converter or the like), other than a
buck converter, may be used as the LED driving unit 220 as long as they
may convert the input voltage into an LED driving voltage and may
transmit the LED driving voltage to the LED 210.

[0055] The control unit 230 may add an additional signal to a current that
is output by the LED 210, may compare a combined current obtained by
adding the additional signal to the output current of the LED 210, and
may control the switching operation of a transistor in the LED driving
unit 220 based on the results of the comparison.

[0056] The control unit 230 may include an oscillator (not shown), an
additional signal generation unit (not shown), a comparison unit (not
shown), and a control signal output unit (not shown).

[0057] The oscillator may generate a clock signal for driving the
transistor of the LED driving unit 220 periodically. More specifically,
the oscillator may generate a clock signal with a predefined frequency to
switch on the transistor of the LED driving unit 220 at regular intervals
of time.

[0058] The additional signal generation unit may generate the additional
signal in synchronization with the clock signal, which is generated by
the oscillator.

[0059] The additional signal may be a current signal that continues to
increase and is then reset to a predefined value over the course of the
operation of the transistor of the LED driving unit 220.

[0060] More specifically, the additional signal may have the same period
as the clock signal, which is generated by the oscillator, and may be a
current signal whose level increases linearly or nonlinearly over time in
each period. For example, the additional signal may be a ramp signal
having the same period as the clock signal.

[0061] The additional signal generation unit may add the additional signal
to a current signal for use in the LED driving unit 220.

[0062] For example, the term "current signal for use in the LED driving
unit 220" indicates, but is not limited to, a current that is output by
the LED during the "on" period of the transistor of the LED driving unit
220.

[0063] That is, the additional signal generation unit may add the
additional signal to the current output by the LED during the "on" period
of the transistor of the LED driving unit 220. Since the additional
signal is a current signal whose level increases over time in each
period, the longer the "on" period of the transistor of the LED driving
unit 220, the higher the current added to the output current of the LED.

[0064] The comparison unit may compare a combined current obtained by
adding the additional signal to the output current of the LED with a
reference current, and may transmit the results of the comparison to the
control signal output unit.

[0065] The control signal output unit may output a control signal for the
transistor of the LED driving unit 220 based on the results of the
comparison performed by the comparison unit.

[0066] That is, the control signal output unit may generate a PWM signal
for controlling when to switch on or off the transistor of the LED
driving unit 220 and may thus control an LED driving current that is
applied to the LED 210 by the LED driving unit 220.

[0067] More specifically, the control signal output unit may drive the LED
210 by switching on the transistor of the LED driving unit 220 at regular
intervals of time in synchronization with the clock signal. If the
results of the comparison performed by the comparison unit indicate that
the combined current is higher than or the same as the reference current,
the control signal output unit may generate a PWM signal for switching
off the transistor of the LED driving unit 220. The transistor may then
be turned on via the PWM signal at the next clock "on" signal.

[0068] The control unit 230 may correspond to the apparatus 100
illustrated in FIG. 1. The operation of the control unit 230 is further
described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0069] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the backlight unit 200.

[0070] Referring to FIG. 3, the backlight unit 200 includes the LED 210,
the LED driving unit 220, and the control unit 230, and may receive a
reference current 240 (i.e., Iref) from an external source. The
elements denoted by the same reference numerals as the elements in FIG. 2
have the same configurations and perform the same operations, and thus
detailed descriptions thereof will not be reiterated.

[0071] The LED driving unit 220 may be implemented as a buck converter
such as, for example, a low-side buck converter, which is a type of buck
converter having a transistor disposed at a lower side thereof. The
operation of the low-side buck converter will hereinafter be described.

[0072] In response to the receipt of a PWM signal from the control unit
230, a transistor 215 (Q1) may be turned on. Accordingly, an input
voltage 211 (Vi) may be applied to a node between a first end of a
diode 227 and a first end of an inductor 225.

[0073] Since the voltage applied to a second end of the inductor 225 is
the same as an output voltage Vo of the LED 210, a voltage
corresponding to the difference between the input voltage Vi and the
output voltage Vo, i.e., (Vi-Vo), may be applied to the
inductor 225 so that a current may flow into the LED 210.

[0074] The amount (i.e., the slope) of the variation, over time, of the
current flowing into the LED 210 may be defined by the following
equation: (Vi-Vo)/L where L denotes the inductance of the
inductor 225.

[0075] In a case in which the transistor 215 is switched off in response
to the receipt of a PWM signal from the control unit 230, a current may
flow into the LED 210 in accordance with the output voltage Vo,
which is applied to the second end of the inductor 225.

[0076] When a forward voltage (i.e., a turn-on voltage) of the diode 227
is ignored, the voltage applied to the first end of the diode 227 may be
the same as a ground voltage GND. Accordingly, the amount of the
variation, over time, of the current flowing into the LED 210, and more
particularly, into the inductor 225, may be defined by the following
equation: -(Vo)/L.

[0077] A PWM signal for controlling the operation of the LED driving unit
220 may be generated by the control unit 230. The control unit 230 may
include an oscillator 231, an additional signal generation unit 233, a
comparison unit 235, a control signal output unit 237, and an
amplification unit 239.

[0078] The oscillator 231 may generate a clock signal with a predefined
frequency to periodically switch on or off the transistor 215. The
oscillator 231 may transmit the clock signal to the additional signal
generation unit 233 and the control signal output unit 237.

[0079] The additional signal generation unit 233 may generate an
additional signal in synchronization with the clock signal, and may add
the additional signal to a current that is output by the LED 210. The
additional signal generation unit 233 may include a ramp signal generator
233 and an adder 234.

[0080] The ramp signal generator 233 may generate a ramp signal as the
additional signal, and may transmit the ramp signal to the adder 234. The
ramp signal may have the same period as the clock signal, and the level
of the ramp signal may increase linearly over time in each period. That
is, in one period, the level of the ramp signal increases during an "on"
time, and is reset to a predefined value during an "off" time for each
period.

[0081] The adder 234 may receive an output current of the LED 210 via a
node between the source of the transistor 215 and the resistor 213, may
receive the additional signal from the ramp signal generator 233, and may
add the output current of the LED 210 and the additional signal.

[0082] The adder 234 may receive the output current of the LED 210 from
the source of the transistor 215. More specifically, adder 234 may
receive the output current of the LED 210 in a case in which the
transistor 215 is switched on.

[0083] The additional signal may be a ramp signal, i.e., a type of current
whose level increases over time in each period. Therefore, the longer the
"on" period of the transistor 215, the higher the current added to the
output current of the LED 210.

[0084] The comparison unit 235 may compare a combined current obtained by
adding the additional signal to the output current of the LED 210 with
the reference current 240, and may transmit the results of the comparison
to the control signal output unit 140 illustrated in FIG. 1. For example,
if the combined current is higher than or the same as the reference
current 240, the comparison unit 235 may output a logic high signal.

[0085] The control signal output unit 237 may be implemented as an RS
flip-flop, and may receive the clock signal as a set input S and the
output of the comparison unit 130 as a reset input R.

[0086] For example, in response to the clock signal being received as the
set input S, the control signal output unit 237 may generate a PWM signal
for periodically switching on the transistor 215. Furthermore, in
response to a logic high signal being received from the comparison unit
235 as the reset input R, the control signal output unit 237 may generate
a PWM signal for switching off the transistor 215.

[0087] In short, the control signal output unit 237 may generate a PWM
signal for switching on or off the transistor 215.

[0088] The amplification unit 239 may amplify a PWM signal that is output
by the control signal output unit 237, and may transmit the amplified PWM
signal to the transistor 215.

[0089] In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the backlight unit 200 may
add an additional signal to the output current of the LED 210 during the
"on" period of the transistor 215, and may switch off the transistor 215
in response to a combined current obtained by adding the additional
signal to the output current of the LED 210 reaching the same level as
the reference current 240. Since the additional signal is a current
signal whose level increases over time during the "on" period of the
transistor 215, the longer the "on" period of the transistor 215, the
higher the current added to the output current of the LED 210.

[0090] According to the examples illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is
possible to provide a backlight unit capable of reducing any variations
in an average LED output current that may be caused by variations in the
properties of the elements (such as, for example, an inductor) of a
backlight unit and the input and output voltages for a backlight unit.

[0091] The properties of the operation of a backlight unit according to an
exemplary embodiment are further described with reference to FIGS. 4A to
8B.

[0092] For example, referring to FIGS. 4A to 8B, assume, for both a
backlight unit (for example, the backlight unit 200) according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure and a related-art
backlight unit, that the "on" period of a transistor of an LED driving
unit (i.e., the period of a clock signal generated by an oscillator) is
T, that the inductance of an inductor of the LED driving unit is L, and
that the input and output voltages of the LED driving unit are Vi
and Vo, respectively.

[0093] As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the amount of the
variation, over time, of a current that flows in the inductor of an LED
driving unit when the transistor of the LED driving unit is on may be
defined as (Vi-Vo)/L, and the amount of the variation, over
time, of a current that flows in the inductor of the LED driving unit
when the transistor of the LED driving unit is off may be defined as
-(Vo)/L.

[0094]FIG. 4A illustrates the LED output current of the related-art
backlight unit, and FIG. 4B illustrates the LED output current of the
backlight unit 200 of an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,
in a case in which the input and output voltages Vi and Vo and
the properties of the elements of each of the backlight unit 200 and the
related-art backlight unit remain unchanged.

[0095] Referring to FIG. 4A, in a case in which the transistor of an LED
driving unit of the related-art backlight unit is switched on, an LED
output current 310 of the related-art backlight unit with an average
Iav(310) gradually increases with a slope of (Vi-Vo)/L. In
response to the LED output current 310 reaching the same level as the
reference current Iref, the transistor of the LED driving unit of
the related-art backlight unit is switched off so that the LED output
current 310 gradually decreases with a slope of -(Vo)/L.

[0096] Alternatively, the backlight unit 200 may add an additional signal
to an LED output current and may switch off the transistor 215 in
response to a combined current Iadded obtained by the adding the
additional signal to the LED output current reaching the same level as
the reference current 240, instead of switching off the transistor 215 in
response to the LED output current 410 reaching the same level as the
reference current 240. For example, the additional signal may be a ramp
signal whose level increases over time.

[0097] Accordingly, referring to FIG. 4B, the amount of the variation,
over time, of the combined current Iadded may become greater than
(Vi-Vo)/L, and thus, the combined current Iadded may reach
the same level as the reference current Iref earlier than the LED
output current 310 of FIG. 4A.

[0098] As a result, an LED output current 410 of the backlight unit 200
may be lower than the reference current Iref at a time when the
combined current Iadded reaches the same level as the reference
current Iref.

[0099] Therefore, referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, an average LED output
current Iav(410) of the backlight unit 200 may be lower than the
average LED output current Iav(310) of the related-art backlight
unit.

[0100] FIG. 5A illustrates the LED output current of the related-art
backlight unit, and FIG. 5B illustrates the LED output current of the
backlight unit 200, in a case in which the output voltage Vo
increases.

[0101] As the output voltage Vo increases, the amount of the
variation, over time, of a current that flows in the inductor of the LED
driving unit of the related-art backlight unit when the transistor of the
corresponding LED driving unit is on, i.e., (Vi-Vo)/L, may
decrease, and the amount of the variation, over time, of a current that
flows in the inductor of the LED driving unit of the related-art
backlight unit when the transistor of the corresponding LED driving unit
is off, i.e., -(Vo)/L, may increase.

[0102] Referring to FIG. 5A, as the output voltage Vo increases, the
slope of the variation of an LED output current 320 of the related-art
backlight unit with an average Iav(320) during the "on" period of
the transistor of the LED driving unit of the related-art backlight unit
may decrease, as compared to FIG. 4A, and, as a result, the length of the
"on" period of the transistor of the LED driving unit of the related-art
backlight unit may increase.

[0103] Therefore, the average LED output current Iav(320) may be
higher than the average LED output current Iav(310) of FIG. 4A.

[0104] Alternatively, the backlight unit 200 may add an additional signal
to an LED output current, and may switch off the transistor 215 in
response to a combined current Iadded obtained by adding the
additional signal to the LED output current reaching the same level as
the reference current Iref. The additional signal may be a ramp
signal whose level increases over time.

[0105] Accordingly, referring to FIG. 5B, the amount of the variation,
over time, of the combined current Iadded may become greater than
(Vi-Vo)/L, and thus, the combined current Iadded may reach
the same level as the reference current Iref earlier than the LED
output current 320 of FIG. 5A.

[0106] As a result, an LED output current 420 of the backlight unit 200
may be lower than the reference current Iref at a time when the
combined current Iadded reaches the same level as the reference
current Iref.

[0107] Therefore, an average LED output current Iav(420) of the
backlight unit 200 may be higher than the average LED output current
Iav(410) of FIG. 4B.

[0108] Referring to FIGS. 4A to 5B, the difference between the average LED
output current Iav(420) and the average LED output current
Iav(410) may be less than the difference between the average LED
output current Iav(320) and the average LED output current
Iav(310). That is, the backlight unit 200 may provide a more stable
average LED output current than the related-art backlight unit regardless
of a variation in the output voltage Vo.

[0109]FIG. 6A illustrates the LED output current of the related-art
backlight unit, and FIG. 6B illustrates the LED output current of the
backlight unit 200, in a case in which the inductance L decreases.

[0110] As the inductance L decreases, the amount of the variation, over
time, of a current that flows in the inductor of the LED driving unit of
the related-art backlight unit when the transistor of the corresponding
LED driving unit is on, i.e., (Vi-Vo)/L, may increase, and the
amount of the variation, over time, of a current that flows in the
inductor of the LED driving unit of the related-art backlight unit when
the transistor of the corresponding LED driving unit is off, i.e.,
-(Vo)/L, may also increase.

[0111] Referring to FIG. 6A, an LED output current 330 of the related-art
backlight unit with an average Iav(330) may increase with a steeper
slope than the LED output current 310, and thus, the "on" period of the
transistor of the LED driving unit of the related-art backlight unit may
decrease.

[0112] Therefore, the output LED output current Iav(330) may be lower
than the average LED output current Iav(310) of FIG. 4A.

[0113] Alternatively, the backlight unit 200 may add an additional signal
to an LED output current, and may switch off the transistor 215 in
response to a combined current Iadded obtained by adding the
additional signal to the LED output current reaching the same level as
the reference current Iref. The additional signal may be a ramp
signal whose level increases over time.

[0114] Accordingly, referring to FIG. 6B, the amount of the variation,
over time, of the combined current Iadded may become greater than
(Vi-Vo)/L, and thus, the combined current Iadded may reach
the same level as the reference current Iref earlier than the LED
output current 330 of FIG. 6A.

[0115] As a result, an LED output current 430 of the backlight unit 200
may be lower than the reference current Iref at a time when the
combined current Iadded reaches the same level as the reference
current Iref.

[0116] Therefore, an average LED output current Iav(430) of the
backlight unit 200 may be lower than the average LED output current
Iav(410) of FIG. 4B.

[0117] Referring to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 6A, and 6B, the difference between the
average LED output current Iav(430) and the average LED output
current Iav(410) may be less than the difference between the average
LED output current Iav(330) and the average LED output current
Iav(310). That is, the backlight unit 200 may provide a more stable
average LED output current than the related-art backlight unit regardless
of variations in the properties of the elements thereof.

[0118]FIG. 7A illustrates the LED output current of the related-art
backlight unit, and FIG. 7B illustrates the LED output current of the
backlight unit 200, in a case in which the input voltage Vi
decreases.

[0119] As the input voltage Vi increases, the amount of the
variation, over time, of a current that flows in the inductor of the LED
driving unit of the related-art backlight unit when the transistor of the
corresponding LED driving unit is on, i.e., (Vi-Vo)/L, may
decrease.

[0120] Referring to FIG. 7A, as the input voltage Vi increases, the
slope of the variation of an LED output current 340 of the related-art
backlight unit with an average Iav(340) during the "on" period of
the transistor of the LED driving unit of the related-art backlight unit
may decrease, as compared to FIG. 4A, and, as a result, the length of the
"on" period of the transistor of the LED driving unit of the related-art
backlight unit may increase.

[0121] Therefore, the average LED output current Iav(340) of the
backlight unit 200 may be higher than the average LED output current
Iav(410) of FIG. 4B.

[0122] Alternatively, the backlight unit 200 may add an additional signal
to an LED output current, and may switch off the transistor 215 in
response to a combined current Iadded obtained by adding the
additional signal to the LED output current reaching the same level as
the reference current Iref. The additional signal may be a ramp
signal whose level increases over time.

[0123] Accordingly, referring to FIG. 7B, the amount of the variation,
over time, of the combined current Iadded may become greater than
(Vi-Vo)/L, and thus, the combined current Iadded may reach
the same level as the reference current Iref earlier than the LED
output current 340 of FIG. 7A.

[0124] As a result, an LED output current 440 of the backlight unit 200
may be lower than the reference current Iref at a time when the
combined current Iadded reaches the same level as the reference
current Iref.

[0125] Therefore, an average LED output current Iav(440) of the
backlight unit 200 may be higher than the average LED output current
Iav(410) of FIG. 4B.

[0126] Referring to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 7A, and 7B, the difference between the
average LED output current Iav(440) and the average LED output
current Iav(410) may be less than the difference between the average
LED output current Iav(340) and the average LED output current
Iav(310). That is, the backlight unit 200 may provide a more stable
average LED output current than the related-art backlight unit regardless
of variations in the properties of the elements thereof.

[0127] FIGS. 8A to 8B are waveform diagrams for comparing the
characteristics of the variation of the LED output current of the
related-art backlight unit as illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 5A, 6A, and 7A
with the characteristics of the variation of the LED output current of
the backlight unit 200 as illustrated in FIGS. 4B, 5B, 6B, and 7B.

[0128] Referring to FIG. 8A, the average LED output current Iav(310),
which is the average output current of the related-art backlight unit
when there are no changes in the input and output voltages Vi and
Vo and the properties of the elements of the related-art backlight
unit, the average LED output current Iav(320), which is the average
LED output current of the related-art backlight unit when the output
voltage Vo decreases, the average LED output current Iav(330),
which is the average LED output current of the related-art backlight unit
when the inductance L decreases, and the average LED output current
Iav(340), which is the average LED output current of the related-art
backlight unit when the input voltage Vi decreases, greatly vary
from one another.

[0129] On the other hand, referring to FIG. 8B, the average LED output
current Iav(410), which is the average output current of the
backlight unit 200 when there are no changes in the input and output
voltages Vi and Vo and the properties of the elements of the
backlight unit 200, the average LED output current Iav(420), which
is the average LED output current of the backlight unit 200 when the
output voltage Vo decreases, the average LED output current
Iav(430), which is the average LED output current of the backlight
unit 200 when the inductance L decreases, and the average LED output
current Iav(340), which is the average LED output current of the
backlight unit 200 when the input voltage Vi decreases, vary from
one another, but less greatly than their respective counterparts of FIG.
8A.

[0130] As described above with reference to FIGS. 4A to 8B, the backlight
unit 200 may reduce any variations in the average LED output current
thereof regardless of variations in input and output voltages or in the
properties of the elements of the backlight unit 200. Therefore, it is
possible to provide a backlight unit robust against variations in input
and output voltages or the properties of the elements thereof.

[0131]FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an LED
driving circuit according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0132] Referring to FIG. 9, in S910, a clock signal for periodically
driving a transistor in an LED driving circuit may be generated.

[0133] In S920, an additional signal may be generated in synchronization
with the clock signal. The additional signal may be a current signal
whose level increases over time and is reset to a predefined value in
accordance with the operation cycle of the transistor.

[0134] In S930, a current that is used in the LED driving circuit and the
additional signal may be added together, and their sum may be compared
with a reference current.

[0135] In S940, a control signal for controlling the transistor may be
output based on the results of the comparison performed in S930.

[0136] For example, in a case in which the results of the comparison
performed in S930 indicate that a combined current obtained by adding the
additional signal to the current used in the LED driving circuit is
higher than the reference signal, a PWM signal for switching off the
transistor may be generated.

[0137] According to the example illustrated in FIG. 9, it is possible to
provide a robust LED driving circuit by using a low-cost, high-efficiency
discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) buck method without a requirement of
any output current feedback.

[0138] In addition, it is possible to provide a hybrid backlight unit
equipped with a metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) FET (MOSFET).

[0139] The processes, functions, methods, and/or software described herein
may be recorded, stored, or fixed in one or more computer-readable
storage media that includes program instructions to be implemented by a
computer to cause a processor to execute or perform the program
instructions. The media may also include, alone or in combination with
the program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like. The
media and program instructions may be those specially designed and
constructed, or they may be of the kind well-known and available to those
having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable
storage media include magnetic media, such as hard disks, floppy disks,
and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM disks and DVDs;
magneto-optical media, such as optical disks; and hardware devices that
are specially configured to store and perform program instructions, such
as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, and
the like. Examples of program instructions include machine code, such as
produced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that may
be executed by the computer using an interpreter. The described hardware
devices may be configured to act as one or more software modules that are
recorded, stored, or fixed in one or more computer-readable storage
media, in order to perform the operations and methods described above, or
vice versa. In addition, a computer-readable storage medium may be
distributed among computer systems connected through a network and
computer-readable codes or program instructions may be stored and
executed in a decentralized manner.

[0140] As described above, it is possible to provide a backlight unit and
an apparatus and method for controlling the backlight unit, which can
reduce variations in an average LED output current with respect to
variations in the input and output conditions for the backlight unit and
the properties of the elements of the backlight unit.

[0141] The foregoing exemplary embodiments and advantages are merely
exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.
The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of
apparatuses. Also, the description of the exemplary embodiments of the
present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the
scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations
will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Patent applications by Jeong-Il Kang, Yongin-Si KR

Patent applications by Tae-Sung Kim, Suwon-Si KR

Patent applications by SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

Patent applications in class Impedance or current regulator in the supply circuit

Patent applications in all subclasses Impedance or current regulator in the supply circuit